Penglai, a city on the Bohai Sea, an extension of the Yellow Sea, in northeastern China
about 250 miles southeast of Beijing, has been a Sister City of Sonoma since 2011.
Known as “the fairyland on earth,” Penglai’s seaport is an important outlet connecting
China with Korea, Japan and the rest of the world.
Penglai also plays an important role in the culture of China. The Eight
Immortals are a group of legendary figures in Chinese mythology and Taoism.
Each represents a different path to immortality and embodies various aspects
of life, including gender, age, wealth and social status. They are popular in
Chinese art and folklore. The Immortals are said to reside on Penglai
Mountain, one of the islands in the Bohai Sea.
As with most of Sonoma’s sister cities, Penglai is a grape-growing and
wine-producing region. Situated in Shandong Province, Penglai benefits from a cool, maritime climate influenced by
the Yellow Sea. This sea breeze helps to regulate temperatures, creating ideal conditions for high-quality grapes,
especially Chardonnay. The region is home to over 60 wineries, which has allowed wine tourism to increase.
Chinese workers in the late 1800s played a big role in Sonoma’s wine industry, digging caves, planting vineyards, and
working at the wineries. The Chinese were discriminated against, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
Our Committee has been working on a project over the last several years to honor their work. The Sonoma City
Council has approved our building a memorial Ting (Chinese-style pavilion) in Depot Park to honor these Chinese
workers. Our sister city, Penglai, has made a significant contribution to the funding of this project, and we will be
seeking their further assistance as we move closer to the acquisition and construction of the Ting. We are hoping to
begin construction next year. More information can be found on our website: TingSonoma.org.
Our Committee has also visited Penglai several times, with another visit scheduled in October 2025. We have hosted
visitors, including the mayor of Penglai, and started a penpal group between Sonoma and Penglai elementary schools.
The Sonoma Sister City Association follows the model of Sister Cities
International, the organization which grew out of President Dwight D.
Eisenhower’s initiative in the 1950s to use people-to-people diplomacy to
promote mutual understanding and avert future conflicts. If you are
interested in playing a part, please visit SSCASonoma.org.
Submitted by Howard Eisenstark, Chair, Sonoma-Penglai Sister City Committee